Federal Unions Worry About Layoffs

Federal unions say they are worried President Obama's plan to consolidate business and trade agencies could mean layoffs. Bill Dougan, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, said he hopes "they find a way to make sure thousands of people working in these agencies aren't giving pink slips." The American Federation of Government Employees released a statement too. In it, President John Gage "takes issue with the notion that most of government is inefficient and that cutting federal workers will somehow solve the problem." But he cheers Obama's elevation of the Small Business Administration to the cabinet. The White House says the consolidation of the six business and trade-related agencies would cut up to 2,000 jobs through attrition.